LFW: Tolu Coker AW19

March 6, 2019

[x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/4″ style=”padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 1px; “][x_text class=”center-text “]by Natalie Worgs

Photo credit: Tolu Coker [/x_text][/x_column][x_column bg_color=”” type=”3/4″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]One of the best events to check out emerging designers during London Fashion Week is Fashion Scout. Nigerian-born designer Tolu Coker was the winner of the new talent initiative Merit Award for Autumn/Winter 2019 (AW19) and follows in the footsteps of past winners such as EDDA and i-am-chen. The winning designer is awarded £20,000 and support across three seasons to help them create and develop their business.

Tolu showcased her identity by embracing her dual heritage and culture and reconstructed black identity within the western world by applying illustrations, personalized family prints and embellishments. The unisex brand, centered around inclusion, diversity, social responsibility and creative youth expression, presented a collage of youthful illustrations with classic silhouettes of hoodies and jeans. The show opened with models walking the catwalk in Nigerian tribal headpieces and braids decorated in gold hoops and jewellery. Accessories consisted of embellished denim boomboxes, key rings of Africa, glasses and visors with heavy quantities of gold and silver chaining, fringing in gold, filigree and shells.

For AW19, Coker’s color palette ranged from black and white to tones of red, yellow, blue and deep wine. Hot picks on the catwalk included the unisex red recycled leather jacket with mini key rings of Africa worn with military boots, a stunning recycled plastic jacket and dress with pressed flowered embellishments. Tolu’s collection featured reworked denims that boasted new cold-cut-outs, see-through plastic pants pressed with lace scraps united with a multi-color jacket and tribal Nigerian headpieces.

Coker celebrated her dual heritage and westernized practices through traditional artisan craftsmanship and her innovative designs. She represents sustainable fashion and is building an outlet for the youthful expression and freedom.